Hands-On: LG Optimus 2X

We had some time with the new LG Optimus 2X. It's one of several new phones running Nvidia's Tegra 2 chip with dual-core 1 GHz application processor. It's not clear if it's coming to the US, but we hope so. Read on for our hands-on impressions and what we liked about it.

The Optimus 2X is LG's new flagship Android smartphone. That's apparent in both the specs and the design.

The display is top-end. It's LG's new "NOVA" display, which LG claims is the world's brightest. It's lovely. The pixels are smooth, with none of the sub-pixel issues that you see on Samsung's Super AMOLED displays.

Optimus 2X

photo by Russ Hickman

photo by Russ Hickman

photo by Russ Hickman

photo by Russ Hickman

photo by Russ Hickman

The processor is Nvidia's Tegra 2 (AP20H) processor. It's a 1 GHz dual-core number, plus a GPU (which is technically eight-core.) Sure enough, using the phone, everything is quick and smooth. The interesting thing about a dual-core Android phone is that it can use one core for the main app, and let background processes use the second core. That should mean less slowdowns due to things running in the background.

The design is gorgeous, and the build quality feels sublime. It's bigger than an iPhone, but that's all in the height. Being tall doesn't affect hand fit. The width and thickness (it's quite thin) fit great in the hand, and the tapered sides make it feel worlds more comfortable than the iPhone.

The Optimus 2X has a size-to-weight ratio that's quite dense. That gives it a high-quality feel off the bat. It feels like a solid slab of technology. The glass (or glass-like) front and soft-touch metal back feel great, and the build quality are top-notch.

The keys all work well, although once again we wish there were a dedicated camera key.